Community Questions Mayoral Candidates

Three candidates vying for the city’s mayor seat spoke publicly Tuesday night, discussing a number of issues identified as concerns of Newark residents.

Hosted by the Lake Area Residents Association, the community forum drew dozens of people, and among their top concerns were economic development and public safety.

The candidates' approaches – while similar in most areas – had distinct themes, with Ana Apodaca focusing on relationships with other agencies and improving community outreach, Al Nagy emphasizing the benefits of volunteering and becoming involved, and Ray Rodriguez stressing the need for teamwork for the betterment of Newark.

Crime

Much like the rest of Newark, neighborhoods around Newark Lake have seen a rise in the number of break-ins, both during the day and at night. Residents asked the candidates what they would do to reduce crime.

Apodaca said that funds from the voter-approved  have allowed the City of Newark to put two additional police officers on the streets and that federal funds added another two. She said Newark should work with regional agencies and make sure the police force is supplied with the best equipment.

Nagy identified four programs he would like to see:

• Reinstating the city’s Neighborhood Watch teams
• Enacting a volunteer policing program
• Improving the police department’s Special Enforcement Team (a unit whose top priority is addressing street crime and gang violence) and
• Implementing a citizen notification system to make residents aware of the incidents nearby.

Rodriguez would focus on building a strong relationship between the community and police officers. By doing so, residents would become more aware of their surroundings, he said.

Rodriguez also said developing a citizens advisory committee would give residents a way to voice their opinions when it comes to decision-making.

Economic Development

Residents asked the candidates how they plan to recruit businesses to fill vacant buildings.

Holding forums and talking with business owners — of both small businesses and major corporations — was Apodaca's approach. “We need to show them what we have to offer,” she said.

Nagy said expertise from in-house and outside experts could help. Property managers, real estate experts and city staff could help the city learn what businesses will do well in Newark.

“Newark is a great place to do business and a lot of times cheaper [than other areas],” he said.

Support will be a tactic for Rodriguez. As a small business owner, Rodriguez said he was given a lot of support from the city when he first opened for business in the 1970s. He said that has changed.

“We need to go out and sell Newark…but the mayor can’t do it alone,” said Rodriguez. The city needs to reach out to various Chambers of Commerce, he added.

Schools

Newark residents also said: "quality" schools are important. The candidates all said they hope to work with the  to help where they can.

Apodaca would like to get young people involved: put youth on a task force so they can be part of the conversation on city matters and have students as part of leadership programs in municipal issues. She’d also like to get parents involved

“We need that support [from the school district] and partner in any way we can,” Apodaca said.”

Nagy noted that the city has helped the district in the past, providing funds for tutoring at the high school, music programs and a school resource officer.

He hopes the collaboration between the two entities grows.

“We are the solution to the problem, at least a part of the solution to the problem,” Nagy said.

Rodriguez hopes for a stronger bond between schools and the community as a whole — specifically with first responders. The relationship with Ohlone Community College is also important, he said.

“We have a lot of youth who are disenfranchised,” Rodriguez said. “We need to fine tune. We need to work on making our city a better city.”

To learn more about the candidates for mayor, to read their statements.

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